Featured Post from University of Delaware

Devastation beyond the storm: Hurricane Ian the latest disaster to cause increase in suicides

Sep 28, 2023

2 min

This week marks one year since Hurricane Ian decimated towns along Florida's Gulf Coast, erasing whole neighborhoods and claiming 160 lives. Recent research found that the toll could continue to rise.

The Tampa Bay Times reported that six people have taken their lives since the Category 5 storm moved on from the area. Increases in the number of suicides after a disaster is sadly not an uncommon occurrence, according to research by the University of Delaware's Jennifer Horney, professor founding director of UD's epidemiology program.

According to a study led by Horney in The Journal of Crisis Intervention and Suicide Prevention, suicide rates increased 23% when comparing the three-year period preceding a disaster to three years after an event.

For all disaster types combined as well as individually for severe storms, flooding and ice storms, researchers found the suicide rate increased in both the first and second year following a disaster, then declined in the third year.

Flooding saw suicide rates increase by nearly 18% the first year and 61% the second year before declining to the baseline rate after that.

By contrast, the suicide rate following hurricanes rose in the first year — jumping 26% — then returned to the baseline in the second year. “Counties impacted by hurricanes saw the biggest increase in the rate of suicide in the first year, which makes sense because it's the most widespread type of disaster among those we examined,” Horney said.

Horney's research focuses on the impacts of natural disasters on public health, as well as linkages between disaster planning and the actions communities and individuals take to prepare, respond and recover.

To request an interview, click on her profile and use the contact button to connect with the researcher.

Connect with:

Jennifer Horney

Professor and Director, Epidemiology

Jennifer Horney's research focuses on the health impacts of disasters and public health emergencies including climate change.

EpidemiologyepidemicCOVID-19Community Assessment for Public Health Emergency ResponseRapid Assessment

Find Experts

Mar 30, 2026

2 min

Inside the Italian art heist: Experts explain the global fight to protect cultural heritage

A lightning-fast art heist in Italy has reignited global concerns about museum security and the protection of cultural heritage. As investigators search for stolen works by some of history’s most celebrated artists, University of Delaware experts are available to help journalists unpack the broader implications. Earlier this month, thieves executed a highly coordinated robbery at the Magnani-Rocca Foundation, stealing paintings by Pierre-Auguste Renoir, Paul Cézanne and Henri Matisse in a matter of minutes. Authorities say the operation was swift, targeted and likely premeditated – highlighting the evolving sophistication of art crime. The theft adds to a growing pattern of high-value art crimes across Europe, raising urgent questions about how institutions safeguard collections and what happens when culturally significant works disappear into illicit markets. UD experts are available to provide context, analysis and on-the-record commentary: Debra Hess Norris Chair, Department of Art Conservation A globally recognized leader in art conservation, Norris specializes in the protection, preservation and recovery of cultural heritage. She can speak to: How museums assess and mitigate security risks What happens after a major art theft The challenges of recovering stolen works in international markets How conservation science supports authentication and repatriation Jessica Horton Associate Professor of Art History Horton’s research examines global art histories and the movement of cultural objects across borders. She can discuss: Why stolen artworks matter beyond their monetary value Cultural ownership, repatriation and ethical considerations How art theft disrupts historical narratives and public access The broader cultural consequences of illicit art trafficking While headlines focus on the dramatic nature of art heists, the deeper story is about the fragility of cultural heritage – and the global effort required to protect it. To speak with Norris or Horton, email mediarelations@udel.edu.

Apr 2, 2026

1 min

Robotics help solve deep Sea Mysteries

UD's College of Earth, Ocean and Environment uses robotics currently operated by the National Deep Submergence Facility (NDSF) to study the depths of the ocean. These expeditions ranged from the East Pacific Rise to the Mid-Atlantic Ridge. The vehicles include the Human Occupied Vehicle (HOV) Alvin, the Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) Jason and the Autonomous Underwater Vehicle (AUV) Sentry. What it is: A CTD (Conductivity, Temperature, Depth) instrument is a key oceanography tool that collects deep-water samples using remotely triggered Niskin bottles at specific depths. How it helps: These measurements help scientists understand ocean processes, including carbon cycling and life systems, which are essential to understanding Earth’s overall functioning. To find out more or to speak with speak associate professor Andrew Wozniak about this deep-sea technology, reach out to MediaRelations@udel.edu.

Mar 18, 2026

2 min

Delaware emerges as a test bed for the future of AI in health care

Delaware is positioning itself as a “living lab” where academia, health systems and government collaborate to shape the future of artificial-intelligence-enabled health care. The latest issue of the Delaware Journal of Public Health, guest edited by University of Delaware computer scientists Weisong Shi and Yixiang Deng, brings together 16 articles from researchers, clinicians, policymakers and industry leaders examining how AI and big data are reshaping health care. The issue, debuting this month, balances Delaware-specific topics with broader perspectives, highlighting three levels of impact: what Delaware can expect in the coming years, what other states can learn from Delaware’s approach and how UD research is advancing AI for health through collaborations. “At UD, we don’t work in isolation. We’re working closely with health care systems so that innovation happens together from the beginning,” says Shi, Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair of UD’s Department of Computer and Information Sciences. Highlights from the issue include: The nation’s first nursing fellowship in robotics – ChristianaCare, Delaware’s largest health system, created an eight-month fellowship to train bedside nurses to conduct applied robotics research. Nurses who completed the program reported higher job satisfaction, improved well-being and greater professional confidence, suggesting programs like this may help retain the bedside workforce and reduce nationwide staffing shortages. Wheelchairs that navigate hospitals on their own – UD researchers developed a prototype autonomous wheelchair that combines onboard sensors and computing with software that interprets spoken directions from users, a step toward moving beyond systems that only work in controlled environments. To operate effectively in health care settings, the researchers say, wheelchairs must be able to navigate crowded hallways, interact with doors and elevators and recover safely when sensors or navigation systems fail. Smarter insulin dosing for type 1 diabetes – Researchers are developing computer models to predict blood sugar (glucose) trends and guide insulin delivery, but must address issues such as noisy data, reliable real-time prediction and the computational limits of wearable devices. A review by UD researchers and colleagues emphasizes the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration, standardized datasets, advances in computational infrastructure and clinical validation to turn these models into practical tools that improve patient care. To interview Shi about AI in health care and the new DJPH issue, click his profile or email MediaRelations@udel.edu. ABOUT WEISONG SHI Weisong Shi is an Alumni Distinguished Professor and Chair of the Department of Computer and Information Sciences at the University of Delaware. He leads the Connected and Autonomous Research Laboratory. He is an internationally renowned expert in edge computing, autonomous driving and connected health. His pioneering paper, “Edge Computing: Vision and Challenges,” has been cited over 10,000 times.